LeBlanc Finds Sharks Easier Than Olympics

It was a nice setup for an Olympic hero fresh from the minor leagues, playing in his NHL debut for a team that was 9-0-4 in its last 13 games at home. Playing against a visitor that was 2-27-2 on the road.

Ray LeBlanc responded with a 5-1 victory in goal for the Chicago Blackhawks, turning away 21 shots and not giving up a goal until the third period. “U.S.A., U.S.A.,” the Chicago fans stood and cheered three times during the evening in salute, the final ovation coming when LeBlanc, 27, came out to acknowledge being one of the game’s three stars.

Then came the reviews, one as cold as a Chicago winter. “There’s a good reason he has not been in the NHL,” San Jose Coach George Kingston said. “There are a number of flaws in his game. I’m happy for him, but I have to be honest. They played very well in front on him.

“It was the kind of night that was given over to emotion rather than reality.”

LeBlanc was realistic. “I thought I did really well--a little nervous, though,” said the 27-year-old Massachusetts native, who starred in the Winter Games after eight seasons in the minors, and who had returned to Indianapolis of the International Hockey League after playing at Albertville.

“It’s good to play before great fans in the Chicago Stadium.”

Chicago assistant Darryl Sutter was noncommittal in his assessment.

“I’ve seen him play better, but I’ve seen him play worse,” he said.

The only goal LeBlanc allowed was a 15-foot wrist shot by Mike Sullivan at 1:36 of the final period. The puck went over the goalie’s right shoulder when the Blackhawks were caught in a defensive change that left them shorthanded.

Chicago came back at 5:34 with a goal by Stephane Matteau to go in front 4-1. Dirk Graham wrapped up the scoring at 17:41.

The Blackhawks got off to a quick lead when Dan Vincelette scored at 1:52 of the opening period.

LeBlanc had 13 saves in the first 20 minutes, including two multi-shot flurries midway through the period.

The Blackhawks got two breakaway goals early in the second period to go ahead, 3-0. Chris Chelios scored at 3:31 and Brian Noonan came back with another Blackhawk goal 1:07 later.

LeBlanc was recalled 24 hours earlier from Chicago’s IHL farmclub in Indianapolis because No. 1 goalie Ed Belfour wanted to be with his wife, who gave birth to the couple’s second child on Tuesday morning in Minnesota.

LeBlanc was called up for one game on Oct. 10 as a backup goalie but didn’t play.

He had a 5-2-1 record as goalie for the U.S. Olympic team, including an electrifying performance against the gold medal-winning Unified Team in which he stopped 50 of 55 shots.

One of the Unified players was defenseman Igor Kravchuk, now LeBlanc’s teammate on the Blackhawks.

The goalie’s record was 4-0 with a 3.18 goals-against average since returning to the IHL from Albertville.

The purpose of recalling LeBlanc was to make him eligible for this summer’s expansion draft, Blackhawk officials explained.